Transcript a tour or modern and ancient China

Created by Mrs. Gail Wiltshire
Interactive
Presentation
Welcome to China!
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Let’s learn more about Ancient China. This part is an
interactive presentation. Have fun!!
The Great Wall
Location
Inventions
Climate and Land
Writing
Chinese Zodiac
End
Europe
North America
Asia
China is located on the
continent of Asia.
Africa
South America
Australia
Antarctica
China is in the shape of a
moose.
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Ancient China
This sign further tells how the Chinese government has restored the
Badaling section of the Wall for all to see.
More about the Wall
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Ancient China
More about the Wall
Ancient China
More about the Wall
Ancient China
This is how the Wall looks as you walk along it. It goes mostly up, but
occasionally down for short distances. It also can tip to one side, as it
does here. These days, many village folk sell remembrances along the
Wall. They attract attention by shouting "Allo!" at every western
tourist. If you don't respond, they approach you and stick their
merchandise right in front of you.
Ancient China
• The Great Wall is a man made structure that can be
seen from space. Others are the great pyramids, San
Francisco and the 4-wheeler at Dalton’s house.
•The Great Wall is approximately 4,000 miles long.
•The first section of the Great Wall took 10 years to
build — at the rate of about one mile per day
•The Great Wall was built entirely by hand.
•It was built with dirt, stone and bricks. At the top of
the wall, a roadway paved with three layers of brick
connected the watchtowers. The roadways were wide
enough to hold ten soldiers side by side.
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Ancient China
Inventions
Yo-Yo
Papermaking
Abacus
Gunpowder
Silk
Compass
Wheelbarrow
Ancient China
Papermaking
Chinese legend tells that the new invention of paper was
presented to the Emperor in the year 105 AD by Cai Lun.
Archeological evidence, however, shows that paper was in use
two hundred years before then. Either way, the Chinese
were significantly ahead of the rest of the world. The craft
of papermaking relied upon an abundance of bamboo fiber to
produce a fine quality paper. In China the papermaker uses
only the traditional materials and methods to produce fine
art paper.
Back to Inventions
Ancient China
Gunpowder
Imagine their enemy's surprise when the Chinese first
demonstrated their newest invention in the eighth century
AD. Chinese scientists discovered that an explosive mixture
could be produced by combining sulfur, charcoal, and
saltpeter (potassium nitrate). The military applications were
clear. New weapons were rapidly developed, including rockets
and others that were launched from a bamboo tube. Once
again, the raw materials at hand, like bamboo, contributed
ideas for new technologies.
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Ancient China
Compass
By the third century AD, Chinese scientists had studied
and learned much about magnetism in nature. For
example, they knew that iron ore, called magnetite,
tended to align itself in a North/South position.
Scientists learned to "make magnets" by heating pieces
of ore to red hot temperatures and then cooling the
pieces in a North/South position. The magnet was then
placed on a piece of reed and floated in a bowl of water
marked with directional bearings. These first
navigational compasses were widely used on Chinese
ships by the eleventh century AD.
Back to Inventions
Ancient China
YO-YO or
EMPTY BELL
The oldest toy in the world was the yo-yo.
The "empty bell" was invented during the Ming Dynasty
between 1386 to 1644 AD.
During the Chinese festivals in the old days, the Chinese
yo-yo presentations played an important role as an
entertaining program. The yo-yo became popular in the
North part of China in the spring.
The bamboo or empty bell was made of two ends of round
saucer shapes with the middle being a horizontal piece of
wood. They were mounted on a string and twirled with a
vibrating motion. This emitted a humming sound.
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Ancient China
Abacus
The abacus is a calculator for adding, subtracting,
dividing and multiplying. Tests have shown that, for
operations of addition and subtraction, the abacus is
still faster than the electronic calculator.
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Ancient China
Silk
China is the first country in the world that
discovered the use of silk. Silkworms were
domesticated as early as 5000 years ago. The
production of silk thread and fabrics gave rise to
the art of embroidery. Historical documents
record the use of embroidery in China as early as
2255 B.C. Archaeological finds, however, place the
beginnings of embroidery at some point during the
Shang dynasty(1766B.C.-1122 B.C.)
Back to Inventions
Ancient China
Wheelbarrow
The wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese.
The Chinese wheelbarrow had a single wheel in the
middle of the wheelbarrow. Farmers used the
wheelbarrow to take a load of produce to the
market place. Builders used the wheelbarrow to
carry heavy building supplies. Soldiers used the
wheelbarrow to remove injured or dead people
from the battlefield.
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Ancient China
Climate
There are 4 seasons.
China has a variety of
plant life.
Land
Rivers
Ancient China
More Land
The Gobi Desert
Bamboo
Land
Forests
Ancient China
Land
Rivers
Mount Everest
Hills & Mountains
Now slicing nearly six miles (ten kilometers)
into the sky, the Himalaya became the highest
mountain range on Earth.
Mount Everest continues to rise.
How fast is the great peak growing? In 1994 researchers placed a
global positioning satellite (GPS) device on the South Col, a plateau
below the summit. Readings suggest that Everest grows 0.1576
inches (about four millimeters) each year.
Ancient China
The Yangtze River, called Chang Jiang in Chinese, is the
longest river in China and becomes well-known by its
Three Gorges scenery.
Ancient China
The Terra Cotta Army
More Army
More than 25 years ago, in 1974, Chinese farmers were
digging a well in central China when they discovered an
important archaeological site. They discovered fragments
from the burial grounds of a Chinese emperor, Shi
Huangdi (Shee-hwang-dee). His name is also spelled
Ancient China
Shihuangdi.
More Army
Qin was the name of the part of China
he ruled. He had his army of more
than one million soldiers conquer the
entire country in 221 B.C. He united
all the little kingdoms he conquered
and became an emperor. An emperor is
the supreme ruler of an empire.
Like most Chinese, he believed in taking the real world
with him when he died. He wanted his tomb to be
spectacular, and he certainly would need an army to
protect him when he died. Therefore, he ordered a terra
cotta (clay) army be built. He ordered that the terra
cotta soldiers be set up in formation with their backs to
him. The terra cotta soldiers and horses would stand
guard in order to protect him from attack.
Ancient China
As many as 700,000 people worked for
more than thirty years to make the 7,000
- 8,000 soldiers, horses and chariots.
When they were first made more than
2,000 years ago, the soldiers were brightly
painted and held real weapons. While molds
were used to make the bodies, no two
soldiers were alike. They had different
hair styles, shoes, expressions and
uniforms.
Over the years, the paint has faded, and vandals have
taken the weapons. Most of the bodies are smashed
because the wooden ceiling that was above them fell, and
terra cotta breaks easily. Therefore, most of the
soldiers are in bits and pieces. Archaeologists carefully
sift through the dirt inch by inch to find the tiniest
parts.
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Ancient China
Farming,Life
More Farm Life
Most of the people of ancient China were peasant
farmers who grew crops on small plots of land. Every
member of the family helped grow and harvest the
crops.
Farmers supplied food to the army and to people in the
city.
Farmers in the north grew wheat, millet, and barley to
eat. Farmers in the south grew rice to eat.
Farmers may have kept pigs and chickens, but dairy
cows were not kept due to a lack of pasture land.
Oxen and water buffalo were used to pull carts and
plows.
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Ancient China
Farming, Life
Villagers dug ditches and canals to water the fields.
Many farmers used simple wooden or stone tools even after bronze
and iron weapons were invented.
The lives of peasant farmers consisted of many long, backbreaking hours tending to crops.
Peasant farmers also had to serve in the army and help with
government projects such as building walls and canals.
Poor people spent most of their time growing and preparing food,
or doing heavy work such as digging and carrying large loads.
Farmers use a method known as terracing which is cutting flat
plains into hillsides. They would farm on the flat plains. The flat
plains looked like shelves coming out of the side of a hill. Cutting
flat plains into the hillside would also slow erosion in a hilly area.
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Ancient China
Food
Poor people ate simple meals. Their main foods were rice, grains,
millet, vegetables, and beans. If they ate meat, it was usually
chicken or wild bird. Once in a while, they ate fish.
Wealthy people ate pork, lamb, venison, duck, goose, pigeon. For
special occasions they might eat snakes, dogs, snails, sparrows, or
bear claws.
Both rich and poor people used spices, salt, sugar, honey, and soy
sauce to add flavor to the food.
Vegetables and fruits were always included in a wealthy person's
diet.
To save fuel, food was chopped into small pieces and cooked quickly
in an iron frying pan, or wok, for a few minutes only.
Steaming was also a common cooking method with the rich and poor.
People usually drank tea.
Water was usually boiled before drinking it.
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Ancient China
Clothing
More Clothing
Clothing was a mark of class in ancient China. The type of fabric,
the color and decorations on the fabric, jewelry, headgear and
footwear all told something about the wearer's position in society.
High-ranking people dressed in the finest silk in public.
Peasants wore a long, shirt-like garment, made of undyed hemp
fiber. Hemp is a rough fabric woven from plant fibers.
The type of jewelry worn showed the position of that person in
society.
A man almost always wore a hat in public. The hat showed the
wearer's occupation and status in society.
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Ancient China
Clothing
Women's long hair was arranged in topknots and held in place by
hairpins and other ornaments.
Wealthy women wore elaborate make-up.
People wore thick padded clothing in winter.
From the Sui dynasty onward, only the emperor was allowed to
wear yellow. Ordinary people had to dress in blue and black.
White was for mourning, and children could not wear white while
their parents were alive.
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Ancient China
Homes
Farmers usually made their homes from mud bricks with reed or tile
roofs. The bottom floor was often built below ground to help keep
the family warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Some Chinese built their house with timber or bamboo poles. A
timber frame held up the roof. The outer walls were sometimes
made of brick. The Chinese preferred wood to stone for building
because it looked more natural and it was less likely to injure people
if the house collapsed during an earthquake.
Poor people often cooked outside in the open air. Wealth people had
a kitchen indoors on the bottom floor. Servants would also live on
the bottom floor.
Charcoal or coal was burned in the fireplace to keep the house
warm.
A traditional home was divided into different sections by
courtyards.
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Ancient China
Beliefs and Customs
Families in China usually included many generations living together
- often under the same roof. The oldest male was usually in charge
of everyone in the house.
There was little individualism in Chinese families. Decisions were
made that benefited the entire family and family honor and family
achievements were more important than individual needs or
achievements.
Age demanded respect. The old were considered wise and were
treated with honor.
Children were taught to respect and obey their elders.
Children were taught that they must care for their mothers and
fathers in sickness and old age.
Boys learned their family's trade, and girls learned to manage a
household.
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Ancient China
Entertainment and Pets
Poor people enjoyed storytelling.
More Entertainment
and Pets
The Chinese played card games,board games and chess.
In the Chinese game of mah-jong, players use small tiles with
pictures or symbols on them instead of cards. Mah-jong is similar
to the game of Rummy.
The wealthy hunted and raced horses. They grew and arranged
flowers. They grew miniature trees (bonsai).
Dogs were popular pets of the rich. A poor family might have a
songbird or a cricket in a cage.
Juggling was a common form of entertainment.
The ancient Chinese loved entertainment. People who could afford
it loved to attend theater and magic shows. They enjoyed watching
acrobatics and martial arts displays. Dancing and musical
instruments were popular.
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Ancient China
Entertainment and Pets
Wealthy people spent their leisure hours practicing calligraphy,
composing poetry, or listening to music.
Kite flying, wrestling, and horse racing were outdoor recreations
enjoyed by all Chinese.
The ancient Chinese liked puzzles because they taught the people
to think creatively. A favorite Chinese puzzle is the Tangram. A
Tangram is a square cut into seven different shapes. A person tries
to put the seven pieces together to remake the square. The seven
pieces are also used to create other shapes such as animals.
Badminton was played and actually originated in China.
Both children and adults in ancient China liked to play a game
similar to our modern-day Frisbee toss.
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Ancient China
Festivals
Most Chinese worked from dawn to dusk with no days off.
The Chinese calendar was based on the moon, and it was divided
into twelve groups. Each group was named after an animal.
The Chinese New Year was the most important festival. It was
in the spring and offerings were made to the spirits. Farmers
gave thanks for the earth's abundance.
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Ancient China
Social Class
The emperor was at the top of the social system.
Ancient China was divided into four main classes. Scholars were
respected above everyone else because they could read and
write. Peasants were the next most important because the
country depended on them to produce food. Artisans (people who
worked with their hands) were next because they used their
skills to make things that everyone needed, such as weapons,
tools, and cooking utensils. The lowest class were merchants
because they made nothing. All they did was trade goods.
Soldiers who made a career of being in the army were not
highly regarded and did not belong to a class of their own.
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Ancient China
Chinese Zodiac
More Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac is a twelve-year cycle. It started from
Buddhism. According to the story, Buddha called all the animals of
China to his bedside, but only twelve animals came. Because he
wanted to honor the animals for their devotion, he created a year
for each animal. The twelve animals that appeared were the rat, ox,
tiger, hare (rabbit), dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster,
dog, and the pig.
Each animal has its own special characteristics. Many people believe
that these characteristics affect events that happen during the
year. In addition, some people believe that people born in a certain
year will have qualities of that year's animal.
Ancient China
Animal
Dates
More Zodiac
Characteristics
1948, 1960, 1972,
Rat
charming, bright, creative, thrifty
1984, 1996, 2008
1949, 1961, 1973
steadfast, dependable, methodical
Ox
1985, 1997, 2009
1950, 1962, 1974,
Tiger
dynamic, warm, sincere, a leader
1986, 1998, 2010
1951, 1963, 1975,
Hare/Rabbit
humble, artistic, clear-sighted
1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon
1952, 1964, 1976,
flamboyant, lucky, imaginative
1988, 2000, 2012
Snake
1953, 1965, 1977,
discreet, refined, intelligent
1989, 2001, 2013
1954, 1966, 1978,
Horse
social, competitive, stubborn
1990, 2002, 2014
Ancient China
Animal
Sheep
Dates
Characteristics
1955, 1967, 1979,
artistic, fastidious, indecisive
1991, 2003, 2015
1956, 1968, 1980,
Monkey
witty, popular, good-humored, versatile
1992, 2004, 2016
1957, 1969, 1981,
Rooster
aggressive, alert, perfectionist
1993, 2005, 2017
1958, 1970, 1982,
honest, conservative, sympathetic, loyal
Dog
1994, 2006, 2018
Boar/Pig
1959, 1971, 1983,
caring, industrious, home-loving
1995, 2007, 2019
Ancient China
Writing
Chinese is written with characters
known as hànzi
There are tens of thousands of Chinese
characters, many of which are archaic or
obscure. Knowledge of about 5,000
characters is sufficient to read modern
standard written Chinese competently.
This takes at least 5 years of full-time
study to acquire.
Starting from about the
fifth century BC, we begin
to find examples of
writings on bamboo strips.
Ancient China
Fun Stuff
Festivals
Homes
Clothing
Food
Social Class
Beliefs and Customs
Farming, life
Entertainment and Pets
Fun Information
Terra Cotta Army
Ancient China
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